Tuesday Hot Topic--"Too Old To Be A Mom"
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 09-12-2006 - 7:49am |
Medical advances have made it possible for women to have babies into their 50s and 60s; at the same age many women become grandmas or great-grandmas. While most fertility clinics will not help women over the age of 50 to conceive, last year a 66-year-old Romanian woman who underwent in vitro fertilization gave birth to a healthy daughter, earning the distinction of becoming the world's oldest mother.
Do you think that a woman should always have the right to decide whether she's ready to face the challenges of motherhood, no matter how old she is? Should doctors always assist women in becoming pregnant, regardless of their age? Or do you think doctors and society have the right to just say no because of the potential risks and costs? How old is really too old to become a mother?

Pages
Powered by CGISpy.com
Powered by CGISpy.com
Noelani, I am so happy you joined us and thanks for sharing your story and thoughts!
I agree with your comment about older ladies, beyond the age of normal child birth, to use extra things to get pregnant, and that not being right.
Powered by CGISpy.com
I think a woman has to consider her health. I know being pregnant at 23 was a whole lot easier on my body than the one I had at 33. I couldn't imagine doing that to my body now.
Plus I want to be around when my kids go to college.
Powered by CGISpy.com
"I agree with your comment about older ladies, beyond the age of normal child birth, to use extra things to get pregnant, and that not being right. I agree--if they get pregnant on their own, then that is a tad different, but to do it with the use of medical intervention, is wrong"
Wow. I couldn't disagree with you more. Are aware that young parents also use in vitro fertilization and other technology in order to get pregnant? Are you opposed to young parents using this technology, or just older parents? What is wrong with using medical technology to help get pregnant?
Andover Andover Andover, always looking for an arguement!
You didn't read my comment then, or you only chose to read a certain part of it.
Powered by CGISpy.com
"You didn't read my comment then, or you only chose to read a certain part of it. I said I didn't agree with older moms 50+ using medical ways to get pregnant. OUr bodies quit having babies at a certain age for a reason!"
Actually, you didn't. This is what you wrote in post 14:
"I agree with your comment about older ladies, beyond the age of normal child birth, to use extra things to get pregnant, and that not being right. I agree--if they get pregnant on their own, then that is a tad different, but to do it with the use of medical intervention, is wrong. "
You did not mention the age of 50+, although I understand now that is what you meant. Some women have a problem getting pregnant past the age of 30. Some are never able to get pregnant. Why are you drawing the line at 50. It appears arbitrary to say they shouldn't have a baby if they need additional technology, and yet it is OK if a thirty year old woman uses this same technology.
I know a woman that chose to give birth to her first child just shy of her fiftieth birthday, and would've had another had it worked out. The father was over fifty. They met later in life. Both were highly educated with great careers. Both parents scaled back their careers in order to spend more time with the child they chose to have later in life. She is a fabulous mother. I hardly think this child was deprived in ANY way because her parents were older. They were able to offer their daughter a stable two parent home, a house in a nice neighborhood, good schools, every material need, financial security, and an abundance of love and attention.
The thing about children of older parents is that they are well provided for. The parents tend to own property, have insurance, and money in the bank.
I tend to have a problem with young women who repeatedly get pregnant with no skills, no money, and no means for supporting her children.
I'm not sure if I feel one way or another but coming from older parents myself I can say that it saddens me so much that I will not have the time with my parents that my siblings have had. I come from a family of 9 living children, my oldest sibling will be 53 this November and I'm 33 the others range in the middle. My parents had several miscarriages and to that died shortly after childbirth. They had all their children naturally as in no medical intervention. My parents have been married 53 years my dad is 78 and my mom will be 73 in October. It has always made me sad to know my children will not have near enough time with them as other kids have with their grandparents. I am the one who checks on my parents and helps them even now that I'm in another state. I know as a personal decision I do not want to have children that late in life I want all of my children to have time getting to know us and know I will be there. But at the same time there is no guarantee that any of us will be there for our kids. Think of all the parents that have died early in their kids life. But I just know that as my choice I would not make a decision to have children that late regardless of financial stability. But all in all it is my decision if I want to do that the way I want and others decision the way they want to do it their way.
Just my .02.
Your right I guess I should have clarified by putting an age, I guess I assumed that by putting....
"beyond the age of normal child birth"--that most would know what i meant.
Powered by CGISpy.com
Pages